Municipalities a driving force for reconstruction 180 new municipal partnerships formed between Germany and Ukraine since start of Russia’s war of aggression
Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan said: “The number of partnerships has increased tremendously since the start of Russia’s war of aggression. This is a sign of the huge solidarity between the people of Germany and Ukraine. Many people in Germany want to offer practical assistance to the people affected by the war. Through the Municipal Partnership Network, we are taking action in areas where it has a direct impact. When everyday life can continue, when the fire service can put out fires and hospitals can treat patients, this makes Ukrainian society stronger. Which is why I want to call on everyone to get involved and to support this country under attack. Because Ukraine is defending our security, too.”
Oleksii Makeiev, Ambassador of Ukraine in the Federal Republic of Germany, said: “The partnerships between Ukrainian and German municipalities, cities and regions are of great importance to us – because our main concern are the human connections. Every new partnership that has been formed since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion is a symbol of solidarity and support for Ukrainians. It is particularly significant that the growing network of municipal partnerships now includes 10 regional partnerships between Ukrainian oblasts and German federal states. These are making a crucial contribution to the reconstruction of Ukraine and building bridges that promote Ukraine’s European integration.Ukrainian regions, cities and municipalities on the front line need particular support, now more than ever. I call on all of us to work together to further expand the partnership network.”
Markus Lewe, Mayor of the City of Münster, said: “Münster is proud to be hosting this conference alongside the cities of Vinnytsia and Lublin. In a time of global crises, it shows how strong municipal partnerships are. They contribute concretely to reconstruction, foster human connection, promote mutual understanding and make the concept of European solidarity practical and tangible. While large-scale foreign policy processes often take time, municipalities are able to act quickly, collaboratively, pragmatically and decisively – on an everyday level and in ways that promote people’s well-being.”
The three-day conference taking place in Münster is the seventh edition of the German-Ukrainian Municipal Partnership Conference. The participants will be discussing how activities at the local level can provide needs-based support for Ukraine during the war. It is first and foremost municipalities that are driving reconstruction in Ukraine. Cities and municipalities in Germany and Europe can support Ukrainian partners in these efforts via the network.
In October 2022, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky became the patrons of the German-Ukrainian Municipal Partnership Network. The BMZ provides support for this work via the Service Agency Communities in One World (SKEW) and GIZ. Municipalities can receive support and advice from SKEW with regard to German-Ukrainian partnerships and when it comes to applying for funding from the BMZ. SKEW is also the first point of contact for municipalities looking to enter new partnerships.
The partnership between Münster and Vinnytsia is a concrete example of how cooperation between municipalities works. With support from Münster’s long-standing Polish partner city Lublin, extensive aid deliveries have been made to Vinnytsia and initial contact has been established with schools in the city. As part of a cooperation between hospitals, doctors from Münster and Vinnytsia have been exchanging knowledge on the treatment of war injuries. A Ukrainian delegation visited a wastewater treatment plant and municipal utilities in Münster to learn about energy-efficient methods. Energy efficiency is particularly important when energy is in short supply due to attacks from Russia.
The conference will be opened today by Johann Saathoff, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Development Ministry (BMZ), Oleksii Makeiev, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Germany, and Nathanael Liminski, Minister for Federal, European, International Affairs and Media of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. On the second day of the conference, Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan will virtually attend a discussion with municipal representatives on Ukraine’s path to EU accession. The conference is being hosted by the BMZ and the partner cities of Münster, Vinnytsia (Ukraine) and Lublin (Poland). Alongside mayors, city councillors and district leaders from Germany, Ukraine, Poland and other European countries, the conference is also being attended by representatives of associations such as the Association of German Cities and the German County Association.